Sam Thompson, Exclaim, Toronto, Nov/Dec 1999

"Toronto's Reggae Cowboys have somehow melded reggae with country music on ‘Rock Steady Rodeo’. They have managed to keep reggae's upbeat 'riddim,' while incorporating country-styled guitar licks and a western shuffle. Although ‘Rock Steady Rodeo’ is only their second album, the Reggae Cowboys have an extremely tight sound, which may be why the strange brew of reggae/country sounds completely natural. Listening to the band brings the Bob Marley classic 'Buffalo Soldier' to mind. Lead guitarist/vocalist Bird Bellony (aka Stone Ranger) has written politically charged lyrics that would fit in nicely with any Wailers tune, and many of the songs are about the plight of Canada's native people, using Marley's 'stand up for your rights' attitude. Of Rock Steady Rodeo's 13 songs, two are covers. The Cowboys' version of Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone is neither reggae nor country. It almost stays true to the original version. The other cover, is of course, a Bob Marley' number. The classic ‘Redemption Song’ is done instrumentally, with a twanging country guitar playing the famous 'songs of freedom' vocal line. The Reggae Cowboys definitely have a unique sound, but on some songs the two genres clash and should have been pure country (Lighten Up) or pure reggae (Jesse's Theme)."